My Genealogy Hound

S. D. Johnston is a member of that well-known general mercantile firm of Johnston & Grove, of Marianna, Ark., which has existed under the present title since 1881, having previously been Jarratt, Rodgers & Co., and Johnston, Foreman & Co. These two firms were really one and the business of both houses was kept in one set of books and as one firm. Later, the firm name was changed to Johnston, Rodgers & Co., and Johnston, Foreman & Co., and finally to Johnston & Grove. Their establishment is among the leading ones in Eastern Arkansas, and they occupy one of the main business houses in Marianna, having regularly in their employ seven men, besides assisting in the work themselves. The main room is 27x125 feet, the large stock of goods occupying parts of two other floors, and ranging from $15,000 to $20,000. Their highest annual sale, made in 1879, amounted to $140,000, but of late years have aggregated from $75,000 to $85,000. They also own two farms. Mr. Johnston is a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1849. He was reared to manhood in his native State and after acquiring a fair education in the common schools supplemented this by a course in college at Columbia, Ky., and in 1872 took a complete course in Leddin’s Business College, Memphis, Tenn., graduating therefrom in October, 1872. Immediately after he came to Marianna and for some time acted as book-keeper for the mercantile firm of Jarratt & Rodgers, serving them in this capacity until 1877. Also during this time from 1884 he had a half interest in the mercantile firm of Johnston & Foreman, in Marianna, keeping the books and attending to the financial part of the business. When the two firms consolidated, the styles being then changed to Jarratt, Rodgers & Co. and Johnston, Foreman & Co., he was an equal partner in both houses. Unlike the majority of the young men of the present day he judiciously saved his money and in the investment of the same he has shown excellent judgment, and in every respect deserves the reputation he has acquired as a successful business man. He not only owns a one-half interest in the mercantile firm, but also some of the most valuable property in the city, consisting of a two-story brick store building, a valuable residence and other real estate in the business portion. He is an active worker for the upbuilding of the town and county, and has done much to assist in eliminating the whisky traffic from Marianna. He is the fire insurance agent of Marianna, representing eight of the best fire insurance companies; is an active member and official of the Methodist Church and the Royal Arcanum, a K. of H., a K. & L. of H., a commissioner of accounts for Lee County, and also belongs to the I. O. G. T. He was married in 1875 at Austin, Miss., to Miss Mollie F. Grove, and by her has two children living: Mary E. and Sarah A. He was married the second time at Brownsville, Tenn., to Miss Nita Mann, his present wife, and by her has one child: Willie Webster. J. B. Grove, the junior member of the above-named firm, was born in West Tennessee in 1849, and made his home in that State several years as salesman in a dry-goods store until about twenty years ago, when he came to Marianna, Ark., and acted as book-keeper and salesman for J. E. Wood in a general mercantile business until 1876. Wood failing in business he accepted a position as salesman for Jarratt & Rodgers, and in 1877 became a partner in the firms of Jarratt, Rodgers & Co. and Johnston, Foreman & Co., now Johnston & Grove. He is an excellent man of business, shrewd, honest and capable, and, like Mr. Johnston, has made all his money in Lee County. He is unmarried.